Heel structure for shoes



Dec. 18, 1962 R. B. ANTELO 3,068,592

HEEL STRUCTURE FOR SHOES Filed Aug. 25, 1960 EVENTQR Panama ,4420/ 4v/zia United States Patent() 3,068,592 HEEL STRUCTURE FOR SHOES Rodolfo Barriga Antelo, 54 W. 70th St., New York, N.Y. Filed Aug. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 51,934 Claims. (Cl. 36-36) This invention relates to improvements in shoe structures.

It is a common experience that the heels of shoes wear out or become run-down much more rapidly than the soles, and under normal wear the heels are generally replaced several times before the soles are worn suliciently to require general repair or discard of the shoes. Under such circumstances, replacement or build-up of the worn heel treads has hitherto required the skilled services of a shoe-maker or repair man, with attendant expense and inconvenience through loss of availability during the repair period, the necessity of delivering the shoes to the repair shop and picking them up when the repair is completed. A further inconvenience arises under circumstances, for example during extended travel, wherein suitable repair services may not be readily available.

In order to eliminate the above and other disadvantages this invention provides an improved heel structure which facilitates restoration of the shoe to its original unworn condition by the user himself.

A further object resides in the provision of an improved heel structure which enables the user to replace the worn heel portion quickly and without the need for special skills or tools.

Another object resides in the provision of a heel structure which includes a permanent upper member and a replaceable matching tread member adapted to be removably snapped into engagement with the permanent member.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved heel structure which is easy to manufacture and is inexpensive and which will facilitate the preservation of the original appearance and comfort vof the shoe.

A further object resides in the provision of an improved, readily replaceable heel structure in combination with a replacement sole.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the above and from the following description and accompanying dra-wings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a typical shoe equipped with an improved heel in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view `of the -assembled heel structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the heel structure of FIG- URES l and 2 with the lower or tread member separated from the permanent upper member;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the permanent heel member with the tread member removed therefrom;

FIGURE 5 is a matching top View of the detached tread member;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical central longitudinal section of the assembled heel combination taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmental vertical section of the same on the lines 7-7 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but illustrating an alternative fastener construction.

Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates a shoe having the usual sole 11 and a heel 12, preferably of rubber or the like, attached thereto. The heel 12 consists -of an upper member 13 permanently attached in 3,068,592 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 the usual manner, and a lower tread member 14 lunderlying and removably attached to the upper member 13. The removable tread portion or member 14, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 is formed with an upwardly extending central key 15 including front and rear arms 16 and 17 of dove-tail conliguration and a rectangular cross-bar portion 18. The tread member 14 also is equipped with a plurality of upwardly extending dowels 19. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the permanent upper heel member 13 has in its bottom surface a central crossshaped socket 20 matching and adapted to receive the key 15, and a plurality of outer sockets 21 similarly adapted to receive the dowels or fasteners 19.

In assembling the heel combination, the lower tread member 14 is pressed into engagement with the permanent upper member 13, the key 15 and the dowels 19 entering their respective sockets 20 and 21, after which nal tight engagement is readily assured simply by the user resting his weight yon the heel. As shown in FIG. 6,l

of the key. -This construction permits initial registry ofY the key and socket, and further provides iirm, secure fit when assembling pressure is applied so that accurate alignment of the two heel parts is secured and maintained. The dove-tail shape of the arms 16 and 17 further augments stability in the rearward and forward directions, these being the directions of the principal displacing force which occurs during walking. The dowels 19, as illustrated in FIG. 7, are formed with enlarged heads 22 adapted to be sprung snugly into enlarged or undercut inner zones 23 ofthe sockets 21, the result being a locking and retaining action after the manner of snap fasteners.V Thus, while the key 20 provides the major locking effect against misalignment, the dowels 19 cooperate therein and also exert ample vertical hold-A obviously adapted to be manufactured and sold at lovvv cost, and being completely interchangeable, require no iitting or other alteration. Thus the user, if he so desires, may purchase one or more sets of spare treads with his original purchase of his shoes, thereby being in position later to rehabilitate the shoes quickly and at his convenience. If, on the other hand, the user does not have a set of spares, he may stop at his vendors and have new treads applied quickly on the spot, it being unnecessary even to remove his shoes during the operation.

If desired, the tread members 14 may be supplied in a number of differing body thicknesses or heights but having identical key and dowel arrangements so as to make them all applicable to a particular upper permanent member 13. By this means selective adjustments in total heel height for a particular pair of shoes may readily be made to suit the comfort of the wearer. This provision also is of evident value in the case of a person crippled so as to require right and left shoes of unequal heel elevation.

In the preferred form of the invention as shown in FIG. 7, it will be seen that the typical dowel 19 is molded in one piece with the tread member 14 and is of substantial diameter relative to its height in order to insure ample strength land stability. However, as an alternative structure for certain requirements, for examemploy a larger number of relatively slender dowels, the latter may be made in the form or inserts 19a of metal or plastic molded into the tread member 14d as illustrated in FIG. 8. Similarly, for special applications the key 1,8 and matching socket 20 may be of appropriate forms other than the modied cross shape illustrated, lthough the latter shape is generally preferred. In the vcase of shoes having 'all-rubber soles, the permanent heel member 13 may be molded integrally withrt'he` sole structure. It will ybe understood that the invention further contemplates the combination of the new heel structure wit-h a replacement sole 11, for use when the original soles themselves have become so worn as to call 'for Ia gener-al repair job. In this case the new co-mbination may be attached by the repair man in the usual way, the Ishoes thereafter having all the described advantages of quick and easy heel changeability.

. In the vforegoing description the structure has been shown as having the permanent heel member recessed and -the key and dowels on the tread member, but it will readily be seen that if desired for certain applications this arrangement may be reversed, with the tread member recessed and the upper member carrying the key and dowels.

Thus, while the invention has been set 4forth in preferred 4forrn it is not limited to the precise embodiments illustrated, `as various modifications `may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

. What is claimed is:

, l; In a shoe heel structure, in combination, an upper lheel member adapted to be permanently secured to a shoe body, said upper member having in the lower sur- -face thereof a key socket and a plurality of dowel sockets; and a lower matching heel tread member including an upwardly extending key and a plurality of upwardly extending dowels Vremovably engaging said respective et, said key socket being of generally cross shape including dove-tail forward and rear arms, a lower heel tread member of resilient material and of a conguration matching said upper heel member, an upwardly extending key formed on said tread mem-ber in shape correspond-ing to Athat of said key socket and engaging said key socket in taper-fitting relation, and a plurality of upwardly extending dowels formed on said tread member and spaced about the periphery of the last said member, said dowels adapted to eng-age said dowel sockets, said dowel sockets including enlarged inner chambers land said dowels having enlarged heads adapted to enter said chambers in resilient snap retaining rel-ation.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said upper heel member is composed of resilient material, and including a sole structure of said resilient material `and formed integrally with` said upper heel member.

5. `In a shoe structure, in combination, an upper heel member of resilient material adapted to be fixed to a shoe body, a lower heel tread member of resilient material and matching said upper member when engaged therewith, one of said members having in its engaging surface a central key socket and a plurality of dowel sockets disposed about said key socket, said key socket being of generally cross shape with dove-tail forward and rear arms, a key `formed on said other member in shape corresponding to said key socket and adapted to engage said key socket in t-aper-iitting relation, and a key socket and dowel sockets in normally retaining relation.

Y 2. Ina shoe sheel structure, in combination, an upper heel member adapted to be permanently secured to a shoe body, said upper' member having in the lower surface thereof a key socket and a plurality of dowel sockets `grouped about said key socket; and a lower matching heel tread member of resilient material having formed` thereon an upwardly extending key adapted to engage said key socket in tapered-fitting relation and Ia Vplurality of upwardly extending dowels adapted to removably engage said dowel sockets in normally retaining snap relation. Y

3. In a shoe structure, in combination, an upper heel member adapted to be permanently fixed to a shoe body and having in its lower surface a central key socket and a plurality of dowel sockets disposed about said key sockplurality of dowels formed on said other member with enlarged heads yand adapted to removably engage said dowel sockets, said dowel sockets including enlarged inner chambers adapted to receive said enlarged dowel heads in snap retaining relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,149,824 Halsted Aug. 10, 1915 1,283,468 Clarke Nov. 5, 1918 1,387,976 Goodman Y Aug. 16, 1921' 1,439,600 Bonawitz Dec. 19, 1922 1,832,463 Jorgensen Nov. 17, 1931 1,986,727 Hall Ian. 1, 1935 2,098,346 MacDonald Nov. 9, 1937 2,341,209 Cintron Feb. 8, 1944 2,549,340 Sniezek Apr. 17, 1951 2,734,288 Phillips et al. Feb. 14, 1956 2,837,841 Twedt June 10, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 862,568 Germany Jan. 12, 1953 702,390 Gti-eat BritainV Jan. 13, 1954 726,390

Great Britain Mar. 16, 1955 

